Lordstown Motors Corp., the start-up manufacturer of electric pickup trucks, is "tweaking" its development and production plans as a consequence of the COVID-19 pandemic, according to a letter from CEO Stephen Burns. While the company had planned to introduce the Lordstown Endurance™ electric pickup truck in June at the 2020 North American Auto Show (now cancelled), Burns indicated that unveiling now will take place "sometime in early summer, probably via a virtual reveal from our headquarters in Lordstown (Ohio)"
The CEO also explained that the first deliveries of the Endurance models have been postponed from December 2020 to January 2021.
Burns assured that the group's design engineers continue testing and fine-tuning the technology that will power the Endurance, and that "essential maintenance is still happening at the plant".
Lordstown Motors was established in 2019, with an EV technology licensing agreement from Workhorse Group (which holds a 10% stake.) Lordstown was formed by Workhorse CEO Burns to acquire the General Motors' idled passenger car assembly plant in Lordstown, Ohio, where it plans to manufacture a revised, pickup version of the Workhorse W-15 battery-powered panel van.
Lordstown Motors is taking deposits for the Endurance, which it intends to be the first dedicated EV pickup with four in-hub motors, for a combined 600 hp. Details of the battery technology are incomplete, but Lordstown has said the Endurance will be able to be recharged with a Level 2 7-kW AC charger (in 10 hours) or with Level 3 DC charging (in 30-90 min.) Vehicle range is rated at 200 miles.
A supplementary power unit will provide 3.6 kW at 120 volts, 30 amps, for tools and accessories.
The Endurance will seat five passengers and reach a top speed of 80 mph, with 6,000 lbs. towing capacity.
Also in his open letter, Burns emphasized the importance of trucks and commercial vehicles to economic stability, especially during the current economic crisis, and the importance of EV technology for reducing tailpipe emissions.
"The air-quality satellite images that are showing the results of having less tailpipe emissions are staggering," Burns wrote. "Anyone that ever doubted that our air quality could be cleaned up dramatically by eliminating tailpipe emissions should now be cheering for the advent of vehicle electrification - especially truck electrification."
